The Russian MiG-31 fighter flew to escort the US Air Force RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft approaching the state border over the neutral waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Russian National Defense Control Center reported.

"On April 10, 2021, Russian airspace control devices over the neutral waters of the Pacific Ocean detected an air target approaching the state border of the Russian Federation," the message says.

A supersonic high-altitude all-weather fighter-interceptor long-range MiG-31 from the air defense forces of the Eastern Military District was taken into the air.

“The crew of the Russian fighter identified the aerial target as a US Air Force RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft and escorted it over the Pacific Ocean,” the statement said.

The foreign aircraft turned away from the Russian border, after which the MiG-31 returned safely to the home airfield.

It is noted that the flight of the Russian fighter was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace and there was no violation of the Russian border.

Earlier, on April 7, the MiG-31 escorted another NATO aircraft over the Barents Sea.

The fighter also rose into the air to determine the target and prevent violations of the Russian border.

The crew of the Russian interceptor identified the aerial target as the Norwegian Air Force Falcon-20 electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft.

In March, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet escorted two US Air Force B-1B bombers over the Baltic Sea.

In February, the Su-27 group also escorted French aircraft to the Black Sea.

The Ministry of Defense clarified that this group included a KS-135 tanker and two Dassault Mirage 2000 tactical aircraft.

In addition, at the end of January, the MiG-31 took off to escort the Norwegian Falcon 20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Barents Sea.

At the end of 2020, the Russian Ministry of Defense spoke about the growth of intelligence activity near the Russian borders.

So, in 2020, the radio technical troops identified more than 1,000 flights of foreign reconnaissance aircraft near the Russian borders.

According to the ministry, "this is about 40% more than last year."

Along with this, the department added that in total, in 2020, radio technical troops detected and escorted more than 2 million aerial objects.

In November, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Andrei Yudin, cited data according to which the air defense forces on duty in 2020 discovered and navigated more than 1.5 million ships.

According to the information given by Yudin, among them there are about 3,600 combat aircraft of foreign states and over 1,300 reconnaissance aircraft.

In addition, he noted that Russian fighters from the air defense on duty more than 170 times climbed to escort foreign aircraft near the borders of Russia.

As Yudin emphasized, in 2020 there were no violations of the Russian state border in the airspace.

Simulated missile strikes

At the same time, in the fall of 2020, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu drew attention to the frequency with which NATO aircraft began to perform training flights with imitation of missile strikes on Russian territory.

The minister noted that earlier flights near the borders were mainly carried out for reconnaissance purposes.

As Shoigu said in September 2020, "now regular flights and approaches with training, imitation of the delivery of missile strikes, including the use of a large number of aircraft, have begun."

Shortly before this, the head of the Ministry of Defense also cited data according to which the intensity of the use of NATO reconnaissance aircraft near the borders of Russia increased in 2020 by more than 30% compared to the previous year.

He cited examples according to which the Russian side recorded 120 reconnaissance flights near its borders in August 2020, while in the same month of 2019 there were 87 such flights.